MLB All-Star voting highlights historic Japanese infielder candidacy and criticism of high-paid outfielder

Japanese third‑base star Kazuma Okamoto of the Toronto Blue Jays is ranked second in the fan vote for the MLB All‑Star Game’s third‑base slot, putting him on the verge of becoming the first Japanese infielder ever selected to an All‑Star roster. No Japanese player has previously been chosen at any infield position, and the only Japanese position‑players previously receiving All‑Star honors have been outfielders or designated hitters such as Shohei Ohtani, Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui.

In the same voting round, New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto, who holds a record‑setting contract worth about ¥123.5 billion, fell to sixth place in the National League outfield poll despite posting league‑leading OPS numbers. American fans criticized the high‑paying star, questioning his value and suitability for the All‑Star team. Ohtani leads the overall vote with more than 2.3 million ballots. The All‑Star Game is scheduled for July 14 in Philadelphia, with the first round of fan voting closing on June 25.

The parallel stories illustrate the diverse fan reactions shaping this year’s All‑Star selections, from Okamoto’s potential historic breakthrough for Japanese infield players to the backlash against a heavily compensated American outfielder.